Change in Listing Status of Steller Sea Lions, Reclassified as Two Distinct Population Segments - Western DPS Endangered, Eastern DPS Threatened

The Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus, is currently listed as threatened, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), throughout its range, which extends from California and associated waters to Alaska, including the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Aleutian Islands, and into the Bering Sea and North Pacific and into Russian waters and territory. Based on biological information collected since the species was listed as threatened in 1990, NOAA Fisheries is now reclassifying Steller sea lions as two distinct population segments under the ESA. The Steller sea lion population segment west of 144 °W. long. (a line near Cape Suckling, AK) is reclassified as endangered; the threatened listing is being maintained for the remainder of the U.S. Steller sea lion population.